Bustle



(Nommroolel.)4

T. P. TAYLOR.

BUSTLB. No. 376,272. Patented Jan. 10, 1888.

N. Pneus. Phmmmgnpm. www u. c

UNITED STATES l PATENT Critico.

THOMAS P. TAYLOR, or BEIDGEPOET, `conNEorio-Ur.

BUSTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 376,272, dated January10, 1888.

i Application tiled-July 9, 1857. Serial No. 243.822. (Xo model.)

.To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS P. TAYLOR, a citizen of the UnitedStatesresiding at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBustles; and I do hereby declare the following to he a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the manufacture of bustles, and has for itsobject to simplify and eheapen their construction, and at the saine timeto greatly improve their mode of opera tion in use.

With these ends in view I have devised the simple and novel constructionwhich I will now describe, referring by numbers to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, in whiehf Figure lis aperspective of my improved bustlcin the expanded position, andFig. 2 aside elevation in the collapsed"v position.

l denotes the belt; 2, the ribs; 3, rigid crosspieces extending from ribto rib, and 4 adjusting strips or cords, which connect different partsof the bustle.

The gist of my invention lies in the broad idea ot' a series ofspring-ribs which in the distended position approximate the shape of theletter S, and which are secured together by rigid cross-pieces topreventlateral displace' ment. .Ihesevribs collapse inward in vertical planes.Any number of ribs may be used, three Ybeing ordinarily quite sufficienton'account of the rigid cross-pieces. The ribs and cross-pieces may bemade of any suitable material--as, for example, fiat spring-steel, reed,whalebone, or twin wire. The ribs lie substantially parallel with eachother both in the d istended and collapsed positions, and the rigid mayof course be varied to snit the requirements' of the trade or the tasteof` the manufacturer. For convenience inV description I shall refer tothe ribs as each bent to form two open-ended bows. The beltis att-achedto each rib near the upper portion ofthe inner bow, the ends of the ribscontinuing downward and forming extensions 5,which rest against theback'of the wearer and form an excellent support for the bustle, as theyremove the strain almost entirely from the belt. In practice the outerbow is ordinarilyfmadelargest and forms most ofthe distending portion ofthe bustle. r[he free end of the outer bow is ordinarily extendedsoinewhat above the top of the inner bow, so that when the wearer sitsdown the bustle will collapse to substantially the position shown in Fig2. y Adj nsting strips or cords 4 are placed wherever they are needed togive strength and stability to the bustle and to'regulate its size.Inthe drawings I haveshown adjusting-cords extending from the endsoftli'e outer bows to the tops of the inner bows, from the lower ends ofthe inner bows to the central portion of the ribs which form the innersides of both bows, and also cords crossing each other and connectingthe ends ot' the outer bows with the central portion of the ribs andtheouter side of the outer bow with the top ofthe inner bow.

It will ofcourse be understood thatthe arrangement of theseadjustingcords mayV be varied almost without limit withoutdeparting fromthe spirit of my invention.

I claim- 1. A bustle consisting of a series of spring-y ribs benty toform inner and outer open-ended hows, a series of rigid cross-piecesconnecting said bows, whereby lateral displacementis prevented, a beltconnected to the inner bows,and

adjustingcords connecting t-he opposite sides of the bows.

2.' A bustle consisting of a series of springribs bent to form inner andouter open-ended bows, a series of rigid cross-pieces connecting saidbows,whereby lateral displacementis prevented, a belt connected to theinner bows, extensions 5 at the ends of the inner bo ws, which restagainst the personof the wearer, for the purpose set forth, andadjusting-cords, substantially as described.

' In testimony whcreofI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS P. TAYLOR. Witnesses:

A. M. WoosrER, C. E. RUGeLns.

